Clinicopathologic analysis of tonsillectomy tissues in a tertiary health centre in Benin City, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Tonsillectomy is a common surgical procedure in otorhinolaryngology, indications for which should be met before surgery. To subject tonsillectomy tissue specimen to histologic analysis has become an issue of debate in recent times, thus necessitating a review of tonsillectomy tissues at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Nigeria. Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the indications for tonsillectomy and relevance of histologic diagnosis of tonsillectomy tissue specimen. Methods: A 5-year retrospective study; January 2010–December 2014 of tonsillectomy tissue specimens received in the Department of Pathology of UBTH were evaluated with regard to patients' clinical information and histologic diagnosis. Results: A total of 224 patients with M: F ratio of 1.2:1 was reviewed. Obstructive airway disease was the most common indication for surgery; 167 (73.2%), whereas the predominant histologic diagnosis was reactive lymphoid hyperplasia; 219 (97.8%). Five (2.2%) of the tissue specimens showed features of malignancy. Conclusion: The most common indication for tonsillectomy was obstructive airway disease. Although the majority of tissue specimens revealed benign features, the recorded number of the malignant specimen was quite considerable. Thus, there is the need to subject all tonsillectomy tissues to histologic analysis.